Chapter 53
Chapter 53:
Elianna’s eyes bore into Yelena, filled with suspicion and sarcasm.
The hostility radiating from the old woman wasn’t lost on Yelena. The roots of Elianna’s animosity ran deep. Years ago, when Donna was pregnant with Yelena, the Harris family had been plagued with misfortunes—business troubles, legal battles, and social scandals. It was a time of chaos and despair. Seeking solace, the family made a trip to the countryside where their ancestors rested in peace, only for Donna to give birth prematurely. Amid the turmoil, newborn Yelena had been taken away under mysterious circumstances.
The loss devastated Donna, but the family, desperate to shield her from further heartbreak, adopted Bella instead. Strangely, after Bella’s arrival, the tide began to turn for the Harris family. Their luck seemed to change overnight—business boomed, their reputation rebounded, and prosperity followed. Elianna, ever pragmatic and superstitious, became convinced that Bella was the family’s lucky charm. Over the years, she poured her affection into Bella, cherishing her as the bringer of fortune.
Since Bella’s arrival, everything had fallen into place seamlessly. Their fortunes had soared, propelling the Harris family to become the wealthiest in Eighfast. On the other hand, Elianna had always regarded Yelena as a bringer of bad luck. Elianna believed that when Yelena vanished, the misfortune of the family had gone with her.
But now that Yelena was back, Elianna couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that her return would once again stir chaos within their family.
Elianna had been firmly opposed to the idea of Yelena’s return. However, after receiving multiple messages from Callum urging her to attend a family reunion, she felt cornered and reluctantly decided to come back.
Elianna’s piercing gaze swept over Yelena, scrutinizing every detail.
𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 — 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖘𝖙 gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹐𝖼𝗈𝗺
The girl was tall and willowy, her flawless skin almost luminous, but it was her eyes—deep and dark, seemingly endless—that gave Elianna pause. There was something about them, an intensity that felt unsettling. Elianna’s expression hardened with disdain, her lips pursed as if she had tasted something bitter.
Donna, sensing the brewing storm, hurried to reassure her mother-in-law. “There’s no mistake, really. A DNA test can confirm everything p>
“Foolishness!” Elianna barked, her voice sharp and commanding. “Testing or not, you’ll regret this if it turns out to be a deception. You’re far too trusting, Donna, and it’s bound to cost us.” Noticing the tension building, Bella quickly intervened, her voice sweet and reassuring. “Grandma, don’t stress. Yelena’s return is a positive thing. Now our family can finally be whole again p>
Elianna patted Bella’s hand with a smile that radiated warmth. “You’ll always be my darling girl,” she said, her tone as soft as a lullaby.
“Grandma, you must be worn out after your trip. How about I give you a nice shoulder massage?” Bella offered sweetly, already rolling up her sleeves.
Without waiting for an answer, Bella began to knead Elianna’s shoulders with gentle care.
Elianna’s face lit up with satisfaction—she had always had a soft spot for Bella.
Off to the side, Donna’s expression faltered. Elianna’s words were a bitter pill to swallow, cutting deeper than she let on. Her eyes darted to Yelena, her long-lost daughter whom she had moved mountains to find.
She studied Yelena’s face, bracing for signs of hurt, but was instead met with calm indifference. Relief washed over Donna as she saw no trace of pain there.
Yelena, however, wore a faint, ironic smile. The scene unfolding before her was so absurd it was almost laughable.